Below are a list of suggestions to help those with low vision through everyday tasks.

INCREASE LIGHTING

  • Use a gooseneck lamp with metal shade and a 45-65 watt indoor floodlight bulb for reading, playing cards or doing crafts. Be sure to check your lamp’s watt limit.
  • Replace low watt bulbs with 75-100 watt incandescent bulbs.
  • Have good lighting on stairways, porches and closets.
  • Carry a penlight in your purse or pocket.

INCREASE CONTRAST

  • Use a dark felt tip or ink pen on white paper, instead of a ballpoint pen.
  • Use a white cup for coffee, a dark mug for milk.
  • Use a dark placemat under your white plate, a light one under your dark plate.
  • Use a light cutting board for slicing tomatoes, a dark one for slicing onions.
  • Hang a dark towel behind you to see your light hair in the bathroom mirror.


INCREASE SIZE

  • Move closer to things like the TV. The closer you are the bigger it looks.
  • Use a copier to increase the size of printed materials.
  • Get large print materials.
  • Get large print checks.
  • Use a magnifier, high power reading glasses, or a CCTV for near tasks.
  • Use binoculars or a telescope for distance viewing.

INCREASE ORGANIZATION

  • Organize items in cupboards and refrigerator. Mark items with rubber bands or raised fabric paint.
  • Organize clothes by color.
  • Return items to the same place every time so you can find them again.
  • Organize coins in different pockets.
  • Organize paper money by folding each denomination differently.


DECREASE GLARE

  • Cover shiny surfaces that reflect the sun:
    Put tablecloths on polished wooden or glass tabletops.
    Put cloths on shiny kitchen counters.
  • Wear lightly tinted fit over glasses which limit glare without reducing light:
    Yellow, dark yellow or plum are popular for indoor use,
    amber for outdoors.


DECREASE PATTERN AND CLUTTER

  • Plain backgrounds make things easier to see:
    Finding a pen, keys or a needle is easier on a plain tablecloth than on a flowered one.
  • Writing on plain, light paper or checks is easier than on patterned backgrounds.
  • Identifying food on plain plates is easier than on flowered plates.
  • Clutter has the same effect as pattern: it makes it hard for you to see what’s there.

USE HELPFUL TOOLS

  • Talking watches and clocks.
  • Talking liquid indicators, for pouring liquids.
  • Large print playing cards, address books, telephone dials and books.
  • Fabric paint for marking appliance dials.
  • Different color hangers for blue and black clothing.
  • Needle threaders.
  • Magnifying mirror.

TO MINIMIZE YOUR RISK OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be caused by too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants, which are found in certain foods. Free radicals are increased by smoke, air pollution, herbicides, pesticides and sunlight. To decrease your risk of developing AMD:

  • Don’t smoke
  • Wear blue-blocking sunglasses: amber, orange or brown lenses
  • Wear a visor or brimmed hat in the sun
  • Eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables which are high in lutein. Five servings a week of kale, collards, mustard greens or spinach.
  • Eat healthy omega-3 fats daily: a teaspoon a day of flaxseed oil or fish oil. For cooking use extra virgin olive oil or canola oil.
  • Avoid omega-6 fats: found in vegetable oils, like soybean oil or corn oil, that are used in almost all processed and packaged foods (read labels).
  • Avoid artificial fat substitutes: don’t eat foods made with partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils (read labels).
  • Take nutritional supplements to slow the progress of AMD for those who have it:
    400 mg vitamin E *500 mg vitamin C *70 mg zinc
    2 mg copper *25,000 IU beta-carotene (not if you smoke)